Tim Sherwood could be the next manager at West Bromwich Albion

Tim Sherwood is one of the contenders to become West Brom manager if the Midlands club dispense with Pepe Mel at the end of the season.

Sherwood has become resigned to the fact he will be leaving Tottenham at the end of the campaign, despite both head coach and club denying officially that the situation has changed.

Spurs say only that the board will review Sherwood’s position after the final game of the season, against Aston Villa on May 11.

Standard Sport understands that Sherwood’s work at Spurs has impressed rival clubs and, if West Brom do decide to change, the 45-year-old is believed to figure strongly in their thinking. Sherwood’s side face West Brom at The Hawthorns on Saturday.

Next Spurs manager - the contenders

Next Spurs manager - the contenders

1/7
LOUIS VAN GAAL

The Holland coach will leave after the World Cup. He wants to work in the Premier League and held talks with Daniel Levy after Andre Villas-Boas was sacked. Hugely experienced, he has managed Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

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MAURICIO POCHETTINO

Has impressed with his work at Southampton and also fits Levy’s ideal profile: the Argentine is a coach, rather than a manager, who is happy to work with the team and allow those above him to deal with contracts and transfers.

3/7
FRANK DE BOER

The Ajax manager revealed earlier this year that he, too, had received contact from Spurs after Villas-Boas was sacked. De Boer is believed to have been recommended by technical director Franco Baldini, now in a vulnerable position.

4/7
MICHAEL LAUDRUP

Another championed by Baldini, the Dane had an excellent first season at Swansea but departed during his second campaign in Wales. Attractive because he is a free agent but is considered an outsider nonetheless.

5/7
ROBERTO MANCINI

Won the Premier League title with Manchester City in 2012 and is apparently keen to leave Turkey’s Galatasaray but may favour a return to Inter Milan. His fellow Italian, Luciano Spalletti, is also highly regarded and available.

6/7
LAURENT BLANC

Levy has looked at the Frenchman before and, should Paris Saint Germain decide a change is needed this summer, Blanc could be in the frame for Spurs

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RAFAEL BENITEZ

The former Liverpool and Chelsea manager is enjoying life at Napoli but has made no secret his desire to manage in England again

Since taking over from Andre Villas-Boas last December, Sherwood has helped the team collect 32 points from 17 League games but they have struggled to keep pace with the top four.

He has also made his presence felt off the pitch, criticising some of his players publicly after the 4-0 defeat at Chelsea last month and also claiming the prospect of qualifying for the Champions League — the objective of chairman Daniel Levy every season — was unrealistic.

Although West Brom secured a vital victory last Saturday, winning 1-0 at Norwich, Mel’s position is thought to be far from secure.

The Spaniard joined the club in January, taking over from Steve Clarke, but they have continued to struggle since his arrival.